Honorable Chancellor

H. E. Governor of Gujarat Shri Om Prakash Kohli
Chancellor

Brief Biodata of H. E. Shri Om Prakash Kohli

His Excellency, Shri Om Prakash Kohli, sworn in as the 24th Governor of Gujarat on 16th July, 2014, and the honourable Chancellor of Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, was born on 9 August, 1935 to late Shri Manohar Lal Kohli and late Shrimati Shiv Devi in Delhi. After completion of his school education and Bachelor's studies, he did his M. A. in Hindi Literature from University of Delhi. He also received his 'Prabhakar' from Punjab University and 'Sahitya Ratna' from Prayag. He began his illustrious academic career as Lecturer in Hindi at Hansraj College, University of Delhi. Subsequently he joined Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi. He superannuated as Reader in 1994 after a long academic career spanning over more than 34 years.

Shri Kohli evinced his passion for activism and leadership right from his young age as a student. He was the PM of Students' Parliament of Hansraj College. He was also elected as the Member of Executive Council of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU). He was selected as the All India President of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for three consecutive terms.

Shri Kohli continued with his spirit of activism even during his academic career as a teacher. He held the prestigious position of the President of Delhi University's Teachers Association (DUTA) from 1973 to 1979. He was also elected as the Member of Academic and Executive Councils of University of Delhi. He had also been the President of National Democratic Front (NDTF), a nationalist organisation of university teachers.

Apart from being a student-teacher activist, Shri Kohli has also been continually associated with the sphere of political activism. He was arrested for the period of 19 months under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the National Emergency and was lodged in Delhi, Agra and Varanasi jails.

Shri Kohli entered into active politics when he was elected as the Member of Rajya Sabha for the period of 1994-2000. He has also been the Chairman of Housing Committee, Rajya Sabha. Apart from this, he has also served as the Member of various Standing Committees such as Finance and Urban & Rural Development. He was also the Member of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Surface Transport.

The various prestigious organisational positions held by Shri Kohli include the President of Delhi State BJP, twice, during 1991-95 and 2009-10, National Secretary of BJP, the Prabhari (In-charge) of states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Secretary as well as the President of BJP's Central Disciplinary Committee, apart from being In-charge of several BJP headquarters.

Mr. Kohli, as an eminent academician, is primarily interested in academics and educational activities. He has also actively contributed to the field of academics in the capacity of an author. He has authored three books in Hindi